Event    From 7/9/1940  To /5/1941

The Blitz

Categories: Tragedy

During WW2 Britain came under heavy bombing from Germany for 8 months, 1940-1941. This was called 'the Blitz' from the German word Blitzkrieg meaning 'lightning war'. London was particularly badly hit, especially at the start, being attacked every day/night of the first 57 days, except one. The objectives were the destruction of industrial targets, and to break the morale of the civilian population. But the Blitz failed, on both fronts, leaving London with extensive physical damage but a new psychological weapon, the Blitz spirit.

This interactive map shows all of the bombs dropped on London during the Blitz.

2019: Spitalfields Life posted a number of central London buildings that bear the scars of war.

The Library Time Machine has a lovely post about the Home front volunteers in Chelsea, 1940s.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Blitz

Commemorated ati

Abbey Road Depot - WW2 ARP members lost

Bill Wallis is described on the plaque as 'ARP Stretcher Bearer'. Which we ta...

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Balham Station bombing - 1

In memory of the 64 people killed at this station by a wartime bomb 14th Octo...

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Balham Station bombing - 2

{Beneath the London Transport logo:} In remembrance of the civilians and Lond...

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Balham Station bombing - 3

In remembrance of the civilians and London Transport staff who were killed at...

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Bank Station WW2 bomb

{Above the London Underground roundel:} In remembrance of the fifty six peopl...

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Show all 53

Other Subjects

George Frederick Simonds

George Frederick Simonds

For more information about this hero click on the picture of his plaque.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Jennifer Ann Murphy

Jennifer Ann Murphy

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Catholic martyrs at the Tyburn gallows

Catholic martyrs at the Tyburn gallows

105 Catholic martyrs lost their lives at the Tyburn gallows, 1535 - 1681.  The Tyburn Convent website explains but only lists a few.  We have found other memorials to a few of them: John Houghton a...

Group, Religion, Tragedy

3 memorials
Sgt Robert Bentley

Sgt Robert Bentley

Aged 36, was shot dead after entering the house in Cutler Street where robbers were trying to break into the jewellers behind.

Person, Emergency Services, Tragedy

1 memorial
Andrew - cyclist

Andrew - cyclist

It's not really clear that the date given is Andrew's date of death, it might be the date the ghost bike was erected.

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Osram

Osram

Lamps and light bulb manufacturers. Founded by the merger of the lighting businesses of Auergesellschaft, Siemens & Halske and Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG). The name is derived f...

Group, Commerce, Germany

1 memorial
Alfred Samuel Allsop

Alfred Samuel Allsop

2nd Electrician on the RMS Titanic. A résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia-titanica website that incorrectly claims (in April 2022) that he was aged 36 years when he died. His birth...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial
Greater London Council

Greater London Council

Replaced the LCC. The GLC was abolished, some say, because Mrs Thatcher could not abide its left-wing politics, nor its leader, Ken Livingstone.  On its 50th anniversary Diamond Geezer posted a goo...

Group, Politics & Administration

241 memorials
Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea

Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea

It was amalgamated under the London Government Act of 1963, with the Metropolitan Borough of Kensington to form the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Group, Politics & Administration

2 memorials